|
Who invented perfume?
The word "perfume" is a compound of the Latin words "per" meaning "through" and "fumus" meaning "smoke". Perfume began as a deodorizer, sprinkled on a carcass to cover the awful smell of burning flesh in an animal sacrifice.
In time, people skipped the sacrifice in religious rites and just burned the fragrance. By 3000 B.C. Egyptians of both sexes took the practice a step further, anointing themselves with scents, typically using a different
fragrance for each part of the body.
(Source: PANATI'S EXTRAORDINARY ORIGINS OF EVERYDAY THINGS
By Charles Panati)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why is it called Scotland Yard if it's not in Scotland?
The headquarters of the London Metropolitan Police has never been in Scotland. Scotland Yard is known throughout the world for its skill and crime solving technique - can it be that their renowned detectives don't even know where they work? The London Metropolitan Police began in 1829 and had its original
headquarters at Number 4 Whitehall Place--right next door to the buildings that used to house kings and other important visitors from Scotland. The surrounding area came to be known as Scotland Yard and the name stuck to the police facility, even after the police moved to new offices (dubbed "New Scotland Yard") in
1890. New Scotland Yard moved in 1967 to the Westminster section of London, where it remains to this day. (Main Source: 1997 World Book Encyclopedia)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why is Elvis's name misspelled on his tombstone?
As "proof" that Elvis is still alive, some conspiracy theorists point out the misspelling of his middle name on his tombstone. The tombstone reads Elvis Aaron Presley, but Elvis spelled his middle name "Aron." Proof positive that
he isn't dead? Nah. Elvis's tombstone has an extra "A" because that's how his
name was spelled. The tombstone spelling is the same as the spelling on his birth certificate. Throughout his life, Elvis apparently used Aron for sentimental reasons. His dead twin's name was Garon, and Aron is the same name without the first letter. If that sounds like a silly thing to do, don't forget we're talking about Elvis here. The misspelling isn't nearly as silly as some of the things he wore on stage. (Source: WHY THINGS ARE by Joel Achenbach)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why are stock prices quoted in eighths of a dollar?
In the 18th century, the American dollar was officially equated in value to the Spanish silver dollar. The Spanish silver dollar was so large it was literally divided up into eight parts. Due to this, for a long time fractions of an American dollar were also expressed in eighths, especially by America's European trading partners. When the US stock market was established near the end of the 18th
century, stock prices were quoted in dollars and eighths of a dollar. The practice has never changed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are some people really double-jointed?
Almost all of us have known someone who was the hit of the party when they pulled their fingers back to their wrists or bent their legs behind their heads. Although we refer to these people as double-jointed, in reality no one truly has
double joints. Contortionists are actually able to stretch the fibrous tissues known as ligaments. As strong as rope, ligaments hold organs in place and fasten bones together. Ligaments normally restrict the movements of certain joints, but some
folks find that their ligaments are more flexible than others. Stretching exercises (and the thrill of grossing people out) often promote the development of this special talent. (Main Source: THE BOOK OF TOTALLY USELESS INFORMATION By Don Vorhees)
|
|
